Business forum shuts down Umzumbe municipality
Insiders at the municipality said this was more of a political issue and power-mongering than one of business.
For two days, Umzumbe municipality was forced to shut down its doors.
This after a business forum from the Umzumbe area burned tyres and blocked the entrance to the municipality.
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Officials and staff were prevented from entering the municipal buildings, thus causing service disruption.
During the protest, the business forum handed over a memorandum to the Lower South Coast Regional Coordinator, Xolani Luthuli, relating to tender contracts and grievances.
The forum claimed municipal officials were suspected of awarding tenders to friends, families or outsiders who did not qualify.
The group also claimed the municipality had been doing nothing to help small businesses grow.
The forum, which had in August this year raised similar concerns, also said the municipality had failed to address their grievances.
However insiders at the municipality said this was more of a political issue and power-mongering than one of business.
“There’s more to this than meets the eye. Some top leaders at this municipality are using the business people to cause disruptions because of their self-serving motives. Meanwhile the poor people of our communities are suffering,” one insider said.
When contacted, Mr Luthuli said he was in a meeting.
Responding to the protest, Umzumbe municipality spokesman, Sabelo Ncwane, said the offices were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday and they were not sure when the forum’s issues would be resolved or when the offices would be reopened.
Asked if services were disrupted during the protest, Mr Ncwane said: “Obviously; we haven’t been in office for two days, and this has led to services being disrupted.”
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